Ask Dr. Connie

Dear Dr. Connie: We have a question. Dogs like bones, and we like ribs. Folklore says that bones are harmful; they can cause distress to the gastrointestinal system, such as punctures. More folklore says that bones are almost immediately softened by stomach acids, and therefore cause no harm. Can we give our dog bones? How common are stomach or intestinal punctures?

 It is not a good idea to feed bones to your dog. Small bones may splinter and puncture internal organs, but this is not the most common problem I see. I have seen more cases of larger bones obstructing the esophagus, stomach or intestines, requiring surgical removal. Another problem, even with very large bones, is the marrow inside. The marrow has a lot of fat, and ingestion of this can cause serious disturbances, such as pancreatitis. Pancreatitis, inflammation of the gland that produces digestive enzymes, can be extremely serious, even fatal. I would recommend that you give your dog other things to chew on, like those nasty pigs’ ears and cow hooves.

Hi, Dr. Connie! Perhaps you can answer this question for me. A co-worker informed me that all calico cats are female, and that, on the rare occasion a male calico is born, he is sterile. Is this so?

 Both calico and tortoiseshell color patterns are sex-linked in cats, so it is true that cats of these colors are nearly always females. Males do occasionally crop up, and are often sterile.

Dear Dr. Connie:  My 13-year-old cat is losing weight. I haven’t changed his food, and he eats a lot, but he is so thin that I can feel his bones!  Could there be something wrong with him, or is he just getting old?

Even with age, a healthy cat should not get so thin that you can feel bones. There are many diseases that can cause cats to lose weight.  For example, cats do sometimes suffer from diabetes; cats with diabetes will eat very well, yet lose weight.  Another disease seen in older cats is hyperthyroidism. These cats have too much thyroid hormone, which puts their metabolism into overdrive.  Increased appetite and weight loss are very common symptoms in hyperthyroid cats.  These are only two out of many diseases that could cause a cat to lose weight.  I would encourage you to have your cat checked by your veterinarian. The earlier you find a problem, the better the chances you can treat it!

Dear Dr. Connie:  My vet told me that my black Lab has arthritis in his hips. He  has trouble getting up, and he’s pretty slow for awhile in the morning. He still loves to play fetch, and he eats great. Is he in pain? Should I give him aspirin or something?

Labrador Retrievers are very stoic dogs, but your dog is probably in pain.  There is a lot that can be done to help make him comfortable, though.  First, keep your dog at his ideal weight, and don’t let him get fat- excess weight just increases wear on those hips! Moderate exercise is important, but heavy exertion will make him very sore. I really believe in using pain relievers in arthritic pets.  I have seen great results using glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate.  These supplements have gotten a lot of press recently in the treatment of arthritis, and for good reason.  There is a glucosamine/chondroitin product made for dogs.  I don’t recommend giving aspirin to your dog; there are much safer and more effective drugs now available.  Talk to your vet about the glucosamine and the other new drugs we have for alleviating arthritis pain in dogs.

 THE CHEWING PUP

Dear Dr. Connie: My dog is chewing my house up! She started when the kids went back to school. She is in the house by herself most of the day now. So far she has destroyed pillows and a throw rug, but now she has started on the wallpaper. Is she mad at us? What can we do?

Look at this situation from your dog’s point of view. She has had people around all summer , and now she spends 8 hours alone in an empty, quiet house. She isn’t mad- she’s bored!  If I couldn’t read, work the TV remote, open the door to go outside or turn on the radio, I’d chew up the house, too!  You need to provide entertainment for her.  Provide a variety of interesting toys, and change them frequently to prevent boredom .  I don’t mean to give her a new rawhide bone every week.  Look for toys that stimulate your dog’s interest, like a Kong toy .  A Kong toy is hollow, and you can wedge a variety of treats inside. She will be busy for hours with it.  If she’s busy, she’s not bored. Check out the pet stores for ideas, or come up with your own toys.  Also, if you have a timer, set it up so that the TV comes on for awhile during the day.  Or have the radio on a timer; most dogs prefer talk radio, so set the dial to NewsTalk 740 KRMG! 

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Below is a great book that can help.